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“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together…” — Hebrews 10:24–25

By now, you probably know that I am not much of a gardener. But even I know that for a garden to thrive, it needs the right soil. Seeds struggle to grow in concrete—they need greater depth, nutrients, sunlight, and water. The same is true in the life of faith. The Word of God must find fertile soil in us if it is to take root and bear fruit. Yet soil alone isn’t enough. Growth also depends on environment—on spaces that provide reflection, nourishment, and care.

The Church is called to be that kind of environment: a network of spaces where grace can flourish. Some of those spaces are physical like sanctuaries, classrooms, tables, and prayer rooms. Others are relational like moments of friendship, encouragement, and shared struggle. Together they form an ecology of faith, where each space offers something different: a place to worship, to rest, to learn, to discern, to laugh, to pray. Each is a means of reflection and growth, helping faith sink its roots a little deeper.

Joseph Myers, in The Search to Belong, reminds us that people today are not only searching for belief but for belonging, the assurance that they are seen, valued, and connected. He describes four relational spaces that together create this ecology of belonging:

  • Public space: large shared experiences that shape identity and joy, such as worship or community events.
  • Social space: friendly conversations and hallway hellos where connection begins.
  • Personal space: smaller gatherings where we tell our stories and walk together in faith.
  • Intimate space: deep, prayerful relationships of mutual trust and vulnerability.

Each of these spaces is sacred. None is more spiritual than another, and each can become a means of grace. Too often we assume that spiritual growth happens only in the smallest, loneliest, or most intense settings. But belonging and transformation can take root just as easily at a crowded table as in a quiet prayer partnership. Every space offers a unique invitation to listen, reflect, and grow.

Imagine Hilldale as that kind of garden: worship that gathers the many, tables that spark conversation, small groups that foster honesty, prayer partnerships that nurture trust and healing. When we honor every space, both physical and relational, we make room for people to encounter God in ways that fit how they were made. To get there, we must stop trying to force belonging and instead work to cultivate it. And in that soil of belonging, grace begins to grow, not in a hurried fashion, but slowly, deeply, beautifully, and together. So, where do you most naturally find belonging, in public, social, personal, or intimate spaces? And, what could you do this week to help create a space (physical or relational) where someone else might encounter grace?

Pastor Jeff